Problems for Apple
There’s no denying that most Apple devotees are loyal to the core and would rather commit hari-kari than say anything bad about the company and/or its products. But that doesn’t apply to all Apple enthusiasts.
With the annual Apple love-in – the Macworld conference – is slated to open in San Franscisco next week, not everything in the orchard is peachy, to mix fruity metaphors.
There are at least two petitions online from people wanting to file lawsuits over claims of defects in the iBook laptop, as Caroline Humer and Ben Berkowitz point out in their Reuters report here. They continue:
“Another growing source of complaints surrounds Apple’s wildly-popular iPod line of digital music players, which many enthusiasts believe will get an upgrade at Macworld with the introduction of smaller, less-expensive models and a range of case colors.”
The upgrade is probably wishful thinking, but be that as it may, “In California, a lawsuit seeking class-action status is expected to be filed January against the company over the claim that Apple’s warranty does not run long enough to cover problems with the player’s battery,” says the Reuters story, going on:
“Taken together, both consumer campaigns against a company that prides itself on high standards for design and engineering threaten to cast a shadow over Macworld, historically a forum for Apple and its charismatic leader, Steve Jobs, to showcase new products and innovations.
“An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment on both questions of pending litigation and the claims of defective computers.”
The story has Ric Ford, president of MacIntouch Inc, saying users of Apple’s iBook have been reporting problems with their iBooks in increasing numbers in the last few week.
Most of the complaints apparently centre on an iBook model with dual USB ports, “and many users say the problems started to show up just after the computer came out of warranty. One of the petition sites, BlackCider.com, which uses as its logo an apple with a screw run through it, has 408 signatures from potential lawsuit participants.”
Brendan Carolan’s PetitionOnline.com has collected 850 signatures and calls on Apple to either extend the iBook warranties or offer a replacement.
“The claims of problems have also extended to the company’s higher-end PowerBook line. Macworld magazine, in its December issue, said it had to return three of six 15-inch aluminum PowerBook G4s it ordered for testing purposes because of defects,” says Reuters, adding:
“Meanwhile, a video making the rounds of the Internet shows a man spray-painting the message “IPod’s unreplaceable battery lasts only 18 months” on iPod posters. The filmmaker, Casey Neistat, said in a note on his Web site, ipodsdirtysecret.com, that he decided to make the film after his unit essentially died in September and he was told the battery could not be replaced. Apple offers a $99 battery replacement service.”
